Water heater



WATER HEATER Il i I ATTORNEYS.

N0v.7,1939. UGOGERS 2,179,274

WATER HEATER Filed Oct. 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7j WJ? INV TOR.

VBY

A TTORNE YS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 l UNITED STATES y `WATERHEATER Ulysses dif-Itogers, Jackson, assigner of olie-half to John L ,Gallagher Appiieatilm october 2s, 1193s, serial No. 237,516

` eclairlls.'` (011122-245) My invention relates to improvements in tubulous water heaters, the primary object thereof -being to provide a mechanism for heating water for domestic and other uses, whereby` economical, convenient and ready supply thereof may be more quickly obtained, heated to -anydesired "degree greater than ordinary Water temperature.

A further object of my invention is to attain greater economy of cost in the heating of Water by increasing the efliciency ofthe vprocesses `and means of imparting heat units thereto I elect this economy by four means. First, by reducing the time required to raise the temperature of a given volume of Water to a given degree. Through the use of my improved device, by thus reducing the time of operation, I greatly reduce that loss of heat units which, in any case, always escape through the combustion chamber and flue, and by radiation from the mechanism, during the heating period, Without being absorbed by the water. Second, in breaking up the volume of water into numerous small streams as it passes through the heater, diverting the same through a plurality of small conduits, thus'vbringing a much larger area of water .surface into-direct contact with the heated Walls ofthe containers and at the same time reducing the volume of cool Water in the cores of the respective-streams, uncontacted withlthe said heated Walls, l Third, by stirring up and mixing all portions ofthe heated gases While in the course of passing through the combustion chamber, thereby increasing to a greater degree the direct` contacting of all the hotter gases with the vouter vvalls of the Water conduits,` thus causingabsorption by the Walls of the conduits and thence by the Water, of a greater percentage of `the heat units of the combustion gases. Metals collect and transmit heat more readily than`water, and when the Water content of the heater is divided up and passed through a plurality of conduits of small diameter, the area Vof metal surface exposed to contact with the circulatingwater is greatly increased over that so exposed when the same volume of Water, in the same period `of time, is passed through a single large conduit, and thus the water is more quickly heated underthe former condition than under the latter.

" Thus, I provide means byV which heat units may be much more quickly and completely Withdrawn and collected from the entire volume of heated combustion gases bya-process of `continuous stirring and mixing ofthe gases so as to bring all particles thereofl into direct-contact With the metal Walls of the water conduits and other containers.

"Fourth, by the combination of small Water conduitsyand longitudinally mounted thereon, closely contacting, metal, spiral ns, throughout 5 the-length thereof, the heated combustion gases thus being led by a circuitous route many times around the Walls ofthe conduits, thereby multiplying` the distance of their travel andthe time of their passage through the heater.

To illustrate more definitely the object of my invention, I here state that with my improved heater I have heated to steaming temperature, the full contents of a Water storage tank of thirty gallons capacity in fifteen minutes While, with the Samewburner and `gas pressure, it required sixty minutes to heat an equal volume of water ina similar tank by passing the Water in a singlestream through a large conduit, all conditions otherwise being equal in the respective tests. The -f net result of the tests being a saving of seventy-five per cent in fuel consumption and fortyve minutes of time and Wasting of heat units through flue escapement, by the use of my devices" 25 -Another object of' my invention is to reduce thel-area of floor space required by my Water heater as compared with that required by other Waterf heaters of equal capacity.

"Affurther object of my invention is to provide easier access and means for repairs and for re- 'moval of scale and sediment from interior and outside surfaces of Water conduits and other heat absorbing surfaces. Any degree of success in this particular will prove of material benefitA and improvement to the art, in providing better and more efficient service, greater economy 'in fuel consumption and longer life of the mechanism.

I attain, by means of my improved heater, a given capacity of hot Water at a greatly reduced costof the mechanism, thus making possible its use in a larger eld of purchasers.

The use and application of my invention may be extended into substantially every field of use and consumption of hot Water.

The description and illustrations of my device, herein shown, apply more specically to heaters designed for hot Water supplies for sinks, lavatories, bath-tubs and hot Water heating systems, but I do not intend to limit it, or the scope of my'claims, to such uses, but to extend the same throughout all fields of uses for hot Water, such as for hospitals, industries, `restaurants,

pre-heaters for steam plants and mechanisms, and storages of hot water.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description.

I declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the embodiment of my invention here shown, such as will enable those who are skilled in the art to make the same, reference being here made to the drawings, which form a part of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a Vertical cross section taken through the line A-A in Fig. 3.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical cross section of the connecting elbow and means of access to the water conduits for cleaning operations, disposed in the lower portions of the several conduits designated by the numerals Ill.

Figure 3 is a top view of the device. v

Figure 4 is a view of a short section of a removable spiral iin of the water conduits, designated by the numerals I2.

Figure 5 is a vertical, front view of a portion of a water conduit, I0, with the removable, spiral fin, Fig. 4, in place thereon.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section of a portion of a water conduit, Ill, taken on line B-B in Fig. '7.

Figure 7 is a top View of conduit, I0, with spiral 1in, I2, in place.

In the drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the respective numerals designate the parts, as follows:

I designates the shell or outer Casement of the device, the enclosed space therein constituting the combustion c-hamber.

Opening I in the top of the easement comprises an escape vent therein for the upward draft of the heated gases of the combustion chamber into the flue, 2.

3 is the combustion chamber, the lower portion of which, 3', accommodates any desired, conventional heating apparatus, e. g., a gas or oil burner. y

As no claim of invention of the heat producing member is made, no illustration or description of the same is included.

rEhe numeral l designates an inner shell or Casement, enclosing a water column or chamber which is sealed at either end by cap members 5 and t, and this chamber is divided into upper and lower compartments l and 8 by a diaphragm orbaiile-plate 9.

The numerals Il] designate metal U shaped tubes or water conduits, having advent into the chambers 'l and 8, through apertures II, the ends of these tubes being sealed in the apertures against water leakage, and being so disposed as to provide means of communication of the water content of the water column therethrough, between the lower and upper chambers.

While, for purposes of illustration, I here show the water tubes IG as being cylindrical in shape, nevertheless, I do not limit my specification or claims to round tubes, but extend the same to the use of tubes of any desired shape, such as oval, square, hexagonal and such like.

Numerals I2 designate spiral, metal, heat-absorbing iins, with central, vertical bore, detachably mounted with a close contacting iit upon the water conduits I A detail of a portion of this member is shown in Fig. 4, while in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively, are shown a vertical View and a vertical cross section of portions thereof.

I3 designates a, special 90 degree L iitting in the lower portion of tubes I0, with an aperture I3' therein at the outward angle, threaded to receive a removable, threaded plug. The function of the elbow with removable plug is to provide means for flushing cleaning compounds out of the tubes, and the insertion therein of internal tube brushes and Scrapers, designed to remove scale and sediment from the tubes. A cross section of a detail of this member, with the threaded plug I4 removed and adjacent thereto, is shown in Fig. 2.

A preferable method of mounting the water tubes vIll on the shell or easement d of the. water column or chambers, is to arrange the same in sets, concentrically around the same, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the first set mounted nearthe bottoms of the lower and upper chambers 'I and'8 respectively, as in Fig. l, and each successive set of tubes mounted at a higher level than the preceding set. This permits a great number of tubes to be used without unduly weakening the strength of the shell 4 at any given place, by too close proximity of the apertures II.

Numerals I5 are intake water supply pipes entering the shell I through apertures it, eX- tending to the lower cap member 6, entering the same through apertures I'I, being sealed therein, and, providing means for cold water supply to the heater from any general source of water supply. I8 and I8-I8 are the hot water service supply pipes to outlets or storage tank. Numeral IS designates the supply pipe shown to be in use for drawing oi hot water from the heater.

"I'he hot water pipes I8 and I8 are shown as 'closed by caps, I8 and I8, see Fig. 3. When any of said pipes are not in use for delivery of hot Water, the idle members may be capped as shown.

The `three hot water discharge pipes and the cold water intake pipes I5, serve an additional purpose in suspending and supporting within the combustion chamber the Water column shell and its appurtenantl parts. The caps I8'l may be removed when it is desired to use additional discharge connections for conveying of the hot water.

The-numerals I9, I9 and I9 designate hinged doors, the door I 9 being shown in partly open position by dotted lines in Fig. 3, while I9 and I9 are vshown as closed.

These doors swing on brackets v2|), 2G and 20" arranged in pairs, similar brackets being attached at convenient and corresponding points, near tops and bottoms respectively, of' the attached sides of the doors. These brackets are each comprised of lugs, 2I,'attached to or integral with the outer shell I, drilled with holes to receive connecting pins, and corresponding lugs, 2|', attached to or integral with the swinging doors I9, 'I9,and I9, likewise drilled with i .en

holes lto receivethe connecting pins, connecting `increase the efficiency of the heater.

.vehti'ongxas herein shown .and described,` is Sub- 'stantiallyc-as ffollows.: t Wateriroml any available source of supply is admitted? into y the `heating mechanism through .connections therefrorniapplied to the intake pipes l5, under 'lgravityicr othermechanically induced Pressure.` ff

LQThe water level in the lower chamber 8 rises until theachamberjis -rllled, and the waterllevel -in the pipes lil likewise rises to a like level. The level in the `chamberf is `prevented from rising further by the `partition 9, whilecontinuing to 'risein the'ltubesil until they'discharge into ttherupperchamber 7, thus` inturnfilling the entire watercontaining members of the system and itszconnections toioutside outlets,where it may `be release-dito use by theopening of `faucets or other releasedevices`,`which are not a part of .theinve'ntion andare not shown herein. i

. Any Vheatin'gfunit available and adapted to such -a heater maybe installed inthe lower section ofthe combustion chamber as at 3.

i `/isttlfie heated gases'pass upward through the combustion chambergthey contact the surfaces oi the outer wallsoi the inner shell Ll, the cap members hand G," water'tubes III, spiral i'lns I2 and pipes"l5,f IBJIB", and I8 and connecting fittings ofthe same. All these metal parts, whose surfacesare exposed to the heated gases, absorb lheatand deliver the same to the water contentthereof. lt is obviousthat the greater the. area ofsuchfex'posed metal surfaces, the greater willbe theamount of heat collected, and in like mannenthe greater` the amount of the area of heatedmetal that is in turn exposed to the water, so will` the heating of the water be accelera'ted.\` 1 v For the .purpose 'of increasing both the, gas contacted area of thewater container, and the area ory Contact` between the water and the inner walls ofithe` container, vthev bodyof water, as it passes through the -device, is split up into small streams as it passes out of chamber 8, through tubes I@,i"arrd.'.=so` undergoing a long travel through the heated gases in the combustion chamber and thence. into chamber 'I.

lt will be observed that no loss of contact with heated surface occurs to the water by its being diverted through the small tubes, as it also eventually passes through all the 4other various compartments of the several water containing members before leaving the heater.

By `this device, there is provided greatly increased surface area of exposed metal to the gases, and also to the water, and a very much greater proportion of the water actually contacts directly the heated metal, as compared with a situation where the same volume of water might be passed directly from inlet to outlet through chambers 8 and 1.

The spiral metal iins, I2, mounted on tubes iii, serve three important functions to further First, by still further increasing the metal surface exposed to the heat, which heat is communicated to the water through contact of the fins with the walls of Ithe tubes, and thence to the water. Second, by the spiral path of travel for the gas, setting up of the same as it passes upward through the combustion chamber a whirling, stirring and mixing motion, thus removing the cooler gas Jfrom the walls or the tubes,` causing hotter gals to take the place, and eventually to bring all hot gas into contact with the heat collecting of travel for the heated gas, around` and around the tubes, greatly increasing the time of passage of the hot gases through the heater, as Well as the time and distance of contactwith the tubes and ns. i

By `this improvement, the Water is quickly brought to high degrees of heat; steam is generated in the process, which tends to deposit scale and sediment in and upon the inner walls of the water containers and xtures of the device. If long life, efliciency and good service are maintained, these deposits must be removed from time totime.

To facilitate ready access to the water containing and conveying members of the heater, I provide an outer shell or easement having three hinged doors as indicated by numerals I9, I9 and I9 in Fig. 3. Through these doors, all parts of vthewater column, tubes and pipes may be reached for repairs, replacements and cleaning. Compounds of any desired kind may be poured into the water compartments by removing cap 5, and same may be hushed out through drain cock 23 in intake pipe I 5. For this purpose a shut-oi valve may be installed in supply pipe from water supply source and closed while the drain cock is open. j

Special elbow fittings I3, detailed in Fig. 2, are provided, with threaded apertures, and with threaded plugs, Id, to close the apertures. The plugs are removable, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit inserting of a tube-scraper or scrubber to aid in removing deleterious sediments which accumulate from time to time in the system.

All members of the device, as described, numbered and illustrated, may be made of any de sirable metal or metals such as are customarily used in the manufacture of like mechanisms.

Having thus set forth my invention, and Stated its principal purposes, describing its unique and useful features, and the means of accomplishing mydesired ends, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a water heater, an outer, closed shell housing a heating unit and a combustion chamber, a water column suspended therein, 'closed at both ends by suitable caps, divided horizontally into two separate water chambers by a partition, a plurality of independent intercommunicating means for connecting the water chambers through divergent tubular passages, disposed in` I ber cap through portholes therein and thence outwardly through suitable orices in the wall of the outer shell, the discharge and intake pipes being threaded on 'their outward ends to receive threaded connections, threaded caps to close the ends ci certain of the discharge and intake pipes while they may not be in use as water conveyors, the discharge pipes and the intake pipes being adapted to establish means for suspending the water column and its appurtenances Within the combustion chamber.

2. In a water heater, an outer shell, housing a heating unit and a combustion chamber, suspended centrally therein a water column threaded at both ends, suitable threaded caps to close the same at either end, horizontally disposed, midway of the column, a water tight partition dividing the same into two separate water chambers, -a plurality of outwardly curved U shaped, divergent pipes, disposed in series at different levels around and outside the water column, each tted at either end respectively into said lower yand upper water chambers through holes pierced through the walls thereof, establishing independently communicating passages between the chambers; spiral fins having a central, longitudinal bore therethrough, disposed with a tight sliding t upon the outer walls of the U shaped pipes; interposed in the respective U shaped pipes, at the lower bends thereof, ninety degree elbow `fittings having therein threaded orifices to receive threaded plugs, suitable removable, thread- .ed plugs to close the oriiices; a plurality of water Supply pipes extending horizontally from Without the outer shell therethrough into the lower Water chamber, orifices in the respective walls of the outer shell and the lower water chamber suitably disposed yto receive said pipes, the said pipes establishing a means of suspension of the water column; a plurality of hot water discharge pipes extending out of the cap of the upper water chamber through the side walls of the cap and of the outer shell through orifices therein suitably ,disposed therefor and a drain cock interposed in any one of the intake pipes adapted to be opened and to drain the water system of the heater 3. In a water heater, an outer shell housing and enclosing therein a heating unit and a combustion chamber, two or more openings in the said shell, an equal number of hinged doors shaped in conformity with the contour of the walls ofthe shell, adapted to close said openings, arranged to swing outwardly, giving access from the outside to the inner members of the heater, suitable lugs attachedfto or integral with the shell, disposed thereupon to engage door attachments, drilled with holes to receiveattaching pins, suitable hinge members attached to or integral with the doors to engage the lugs, drilled with suitable holes to engage the attachment pins, attachment pins to attach the `lugs and door hinge members; a water column suspended Within the combustion chamber, closed at either end, a partition therein, disposed midway thereof, dviding'the column into two separate water chambers; a plurality of independent, tubular channels, tted at their lower ends into holes suitably disposed therefor, pierced through the walls of the lower chamber, and in like manner, their" respective upper ends fitted into corresponding holes therefor, pierced through the walls of the upper chamber, establishing independent means of communication between the chambers; removable, spiral iin members with central, longitudinal bores, mounted upon and in continuous, close contact, throughout the length thereof, with the outer walls of said channels; 'closable openings in the lower portions of the channels, means for closing the openings; a plurality of intake pipes extending from within the lower water chamber through the walls of the chamber and of the outer shell, through orifices suitably disposed therein, to establish outside connections with water supply sources; a plurality of hot water discharging pipes extending from within the upper chamber cap outwardly through the walls of the said cap and of the outer shell, through orifices suitably disposed therein, to establish connections to conduits leading to hot water service equipment; the outer ends of intake and discharge pipes being threaded to permit of attaching the same to any desired outside connection, suitable threaded caps to close such oisaid pipes as may not be attached and in use for water conductors and said pipes establishing means of suspension for the water column and its appurtenances within the combustion chamber, substantially as shown.

ULYSSES G. ROGERS. 

